This was the first April since perhaps the 1850s during which no iron ore was shipped from Escanaba, Mich.
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 5.5 million tons in April, a decrease of 6.3 percent compared to a year ago. However, shipments topped the five-year average for April by nearly 15 percent, according to Lake Carriers’ Association.
Shipments from U.S. Great Lakes ports totaled 5.1 million tons in April, a decrease of 4.5 percent. This was the first April since perhaps the 1850s during which no iron ore was shipped from Escanaba, Mich., the association said. The mine that shipped through Escanaba has been shuttered, and all the iron ore shipped to U.S. steel mills in April had to transit the Poe Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
The MacArthur Lock is undergoing maintenance and is not yet open for the season.
Loadings at Canadian terminals in the Seaway totaled 380,000 tons in April, a decrease of 18.2 percent, Lake Carriers’ Association said Tuesday.
Year to date, the iron ore trade stands at 9.4 million tons, a decrease of 13.7 percent compared to the same point in 2017. Loadings at U.S. ports total 8.2 million tons, a decrease of 15.6 percent year-over-year. Shipments from Canadian ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway have increased slightly to 1.2 million tons, according to Lake Carriers’ Association data.
Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 45 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry and coal for power generation, as well as sand, grain and other dry-bulk cargos. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 100 million tons of cargo per year.
Shipments from U.S. Great Lakes ports totaled 5.1 million tons in April, a decrease of 4.5 percent. This was the first April since perhaps the 1850s during which no iron ore was shipped from Escanaba, Mich., the association said. The mine that shipped through Escanaba has been shuttered, and all the iron ore shipped to U.S. steel mills in April had to transit the Poe Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
The MacArthur Lock is undergoing maintenance and is not yet open for the season.
Loadings at Canadian terminals in the Seaway totaled 380,000 tons in April, a decrease of 18.2 percent, Lake Carriers’ Association said Tuesday.
Year to date, the iron ore trade stands at 9.4 million tons, a decrease of 13.7 percent compared to the same point in 2017. Loadings at U.S. ports total 8.2 million tons, a decrease of 15.6 percent year-over-year. Shipments from Canadian ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway have increased slightly to 1.2 million tons, according to Lake Carriers’ Association data.
Lake Carriers’ Association represents 13 American companies that operate 45 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes and carry iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, aggregate and cement for the construction industry and coal for power generation, as well as sand, grain and other dry-bulk cargos. Collectively, these vessels can transport more than 100 million tons of cargo per year.